Michelle Piccinino appointed as Environment and Resources Authority director

Michelle Piccinino has been appointed as the director of the Environment and Resources Authority. The authority will take over on Monday as the national regulator on the environment.

The Authority was established by the new Environment Protection Act I of 2016 and its Board set up through Government Notice 132 of 2016.

The appointment of Piccinino as director follows a call for applications.

Piccinino had represented MEPA in various boards and committees and has occupied leading roles in negotiations during bilateral meetings.

Piccinino was also involved in the demerger process and the setting up of the ERA. She graduated as an architect and civil engineer from the University of Malta in June 1995.

The ERA said in a statement it shall be maintaining consultation with all stakeholders to promote and instill sound environmental management.

Its main goals are:

• To mainstream environmental targets and objectives across Government and society;

• To take the leading role in advising Government on environmental policy-making at the national level, as well as in the context of international environmental negotiations;

• To develop evidence-based policy; backed by a robust data gathering structure; and

• To draw up plans, provide a licensing regime and monitor activities having an environmental impact, and to integrate environmental considerations within the development control process.